Scottish football is often accused of being a two-horse race, but as the new SPL season is underway, the bookies seem to be convinced that Celtic are going to retain their title, but this year carries that extra bit of importance as a 56th title puts the Celts at the top of the Scottish football all-time ladder. 

Hearts might have come out of the traps quickly, but the bookies have Celtic at around 1/4 to retain their league title. Yes, there’s a long way to go, and there’s going to be plenty of twists and turns along the way. 

We’ve went into seasons at shorter odds than this and been wiped out by injuries, suspensions and player bust ups, but this current crop under Rodgers feels like it’s firing on all cylinders, and even if there are issues, the disarray that is happening at other clubs gives us enough of a cushion to be quietly confident of getting our hands on number 56. 

Attacking Options At Celtic Park 

Nicolas Kuhn has left Celtic Park and moved to the sunny shores of Italy. While he has left the Celts on good terms, some fans see it as a blow, and understandably so, others believe they’ve got a fair price for him. While it could be a breakout season for Yang, Rodgers will be keen to avoid injuries, given they’ve said goodbye to Kuhn. There’s still a lot of question marks about the future of Australian winger Marco Tilio, who has spent a year back home with Melbourne City. 

The betting platforms rarely get it wrong, and with more gambling companies looking to expand right across the betting world, and companies like Joe Fortune Australia expanding their business into the world of cryptocurrency, there’s added pressure for betting companies to ensure they get their markets correct. If they are slow off the mark or offer odds that are too attractive, their whole business model could be flawed. 

So, again, although the Celts are looking like pretty resounding favorites, betting companies need to ensure they keep their odds in line with the rest of the competition and to be quick off the mark in adjusting their odds if there are transfers, injuries are big news off the pitch that will impact the outright market. 

The Japanese Revolution

Daizen Maida has been fantastic for the Celts, especially last season. Rodgers has remained philosophical about the idea of the Japanese forward extending his current deal. Still, alongside midfield powerhouse Reo Hatate and new signing Shin Yamada, it appears that this could be the core of the team that could go on to achieve great things.

Ideally, the Celts will need to secure Champions League qualification so that they can take advantage of the enormous financial injection that awaits teams that qualify.

With Rodgers’ men having to travel out to Kazakhstan for their qualifier, it’ll be interesting to see how many Celts fans make the trip, considering it is one of the furthest away days there is in European football. Before the internet, finding the televised game would’ve been a nightmare for Celtic fans, especially those who live overseas. 

However, now that the rise of streaming services has helped to break down many of these conventional barriers, there are going to be Celtic fans dotted all over the world watching with bated breath, as well as the growing Japanese fanbase that has stemmed from the attacking Japanese trio that currently call Celtic Park their home. 

Taking a look at the teams that have won the league over the last decade, one thing they have in common is that they all had a core of solid, consistent names who didn’t buckle under the pressure. So long as this core remains, and Brendan brings in a few more names before the end of the window, then it’s looking promising for the Celts. 

Trying Not To Jinx It

Football fans are a superstitious bunch, and while we’re doing our best not to jinx it, all of the omens are looking good as we enter a new season at Celtic Park. There’s a spirit at the core of the team. While a lot hinges on potential Champions League qualification, the target is undoubtedly going to try to get past the Champions League group stages and get our hands on number 56. 

The Rangers are in disarray, with minimal activity in the window and the quality of their new manager still in question. Hearts are distant third, and despite their strong start, they’re unlikely to mount a serious challenge. 

So long as Rodgers can strengthen the squad, bring in the cash injection from European qualification, and keep hold of some of the attacking talent that fired us to the league-winning campaign last year, then there’s every reason to believe that they can repeat this feat. Formality is a strong word in football, and it’s definitely a word that shouldn’t be used to describe a team’s title chances in the middle of the summer – but it’s going to take a lot for the Celts to mess it up.